Advanced time off

[JT]

So, I'm thinking that I should put in an advanced time off request for when my husband goes to boot camp. I know that it's crazy, hes not scheduled to leave until 6/13. But, with the nature of my job, and being the lowest person on the totem pole, my best chance of getting the time off without being sneaky and calling out is put the time off request in now, and hope no one with higher seniority blocks it.

with that being said, I'm planning on taking off 10 days to accommodate two possible PIR weekends...if so, which 2 should I pick? 8th and 9th friday, or 9th and 10th friday?

Thanks

[NavyMum]

keep in mind that his ship-date may change between now and then - my son's did...only by a few days but I've seen shipdates move up several months or be delayed as well.

Also - it's really hard to guess PIR dates in advance. He might end up filling the last few slots of a group from the previous week and end up with an earlier PIR. He might end up having to wait for his group to fill and end up with a later PIR. I know my son ended up with a PIR date a week earlier than I had guessed based on his shipdate BUT others who shipped the same day ended up a week earlier than him even.

Good luck - is this something you could talk to your boss about and see if they can accomodate the time off once you get a PIR date?

[luvmycb]

If you have to choose I'd do the 8th and 9th Fridays. My son left on July 19th and we were told his PIR would be either Sept. 9th or Sept. 16th (which was the 9th Friday). It ended up being the 16th because he had to wait for others to arrive to form a division. I would suggest talking with your boss and asking for some flexibility with your leave request. As mentioned, his ship date may change I saw several others posting about that when my son was waiting to go but his (my son's) date did not change.

[thinNavyblueline]

I've also had to ask for time off in advance to see my sailor. One thing you have to keep in mind is that ship dates and graduation dates are tentative, my sailors ship date changed at least ten times before he actually left. And once he did leave, his PIR was a week earlier than all of us predicted. What I did when I was working retail and needed time off was explained the situation to my manager, how the dates were subject to change but that I would let him know as soon as possible. But I did go ahead and formally request time off for the best guess I could make, however this was only 1-2 months out. If at all possible I would try to wait longer if you can, but if you really think you need to put it in now then I would explain the situation to your manager. Best of luck!

[JT]

Regardless of if I wait, I will have to have my time off request in by may 15, the further out I ask, the better chance no one will take the time off and prevent me from going. Last summer, there was really no week to take off due to everyone taking 2-4 weeks off in the summer

[JT]

I would attempt understanding, but I work with 9 other people who are all just super ridiculous. Half of them have FMLAs that they use whenever they want time off. Normally, I would think yes, we would and should rally together to make this kind of thing happen, but, my department thinks of themselves first, and other's second.

For example: 3 people had deaths in the family last week, and 2 people were out a few days sick. Most of the shifts that needed to be covered were covered by 2people. I'm talking 15 shifts, 12 of them covered by 2 people. And to top it off, 1 person that picked up one of those other shifts, asked me to cover it, when I didn't, she called out and stuck me with it!

Every single person follows the letter of the contract because they all hate each other, so I can't just get time off after the schedule is approved of, a month in advance. And our summer vacations have to be put in before may 15, to cover any date from June 15-sept 15. I'm absolutely terrified that I'm not going to get the time off even if I put in a request 6 months in advance.

im certainly not making friends with the woman who called out to stick me with a shift I declined in taking. Ugh...it's really terrible to be in a union and be the lowest person on the totem pole. And I'm usually the biggest team player, my permanent hours are 16, I typically work 50, and usually will work if someone asks. But...I don't trust a single person I work with to actually help me out when push comes to shove.

[lemonelephant]

Since he is shipping at the beginning of the week, 08/04/2017 and 08/11/2017 are both possible. You will not know the PIR date for certain until you receive The Form Letter. See Arrival and What Happens at the RTC

[Peep'sMom]

Can you ask for the all dates off and then "give back' the ones you don't need? That way you are on the books for Earned time off, but noone says you have to take it.

For example, I was scheduled for time off today, but since my sailor left yesterday, I went in to work and ask them to credit it back to me, which they did.  I also went ahead and asked off for both weekends that I could need for PIR, once I know the exact dates, I'll 'give back" the other days, but at least I know I'm slated for them. 

[lemonelephant]

Good plan.

[JT]

I can try. I can only ask for 1 advance time off request per rolling calendar year, I can only take off 3 weeks total of summer, and I am the lowest person in seniority at work. My boss tried to be understanding and give us days off if we can find coverage, regardless of whether it creates overtime, so long as we post it for a week, at least 10 days prior to needing it. But, one of the ladies told me she is going to grieve a day he didn't pay her because we were both on the schedule, and he gave her a vacation day bc she asked for the day off a while ago, and forgot. If she does that, I won't even have that possibility.

My work is literally filled with people who dislike each other so much they will not do something, just to make life harder for the other person. It is really the most ridiculous thing in the world.

My boss literally comes to visit us every day just to make sure we're behaving. I'm fairly certain it's a full time job playing referee.

[Sasysweet]

I just found out with my employer that this is something covered under FMLA so that may be something to look into.